LOVES PARK — Voters elected Mayor Darryl Lindberg to a fifth term Tuesday over fellow City Hall veteran John Pruitt.

Lindberg gathered 70.5 percent of the vote to defeat Pruitt, who has been the city’s 2nd Ward alderman for 22 years. Pruitt’s aldermanic term continues through April 2015.

Tuesday’s election was the first time Lindberg faced a challenger since he was first elected in 1997.

“I think our citizens are proud of Loves Park and that’s my job to make sure they stay proud of Loves Park,” Lindberg said after seeing Tuesday’s unofficial results.

Lindberg, who was police chief for 18 years before taking over as mayor, will look to tackle an underfunded police pension and focus on road repairs as he shapes the city budget for approval by July 31. The city is also in the midst of negotiations with its police union.

“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done and we’re ready to do it,” he said.

Lindberg’s and Pruitt’s major disagreement was about a 5 percent tax on natural gas and electricity that the City Council narrowly approved in 2010. Lindberg broke a 5-5 tally to put the tax in place, which costs homeowners $8 a month. It raised $1.5 million last year and Lindberg said it’s needed for the city to continue to provide basic services.

Pruitt wanted to introduce an immediate rebate program on the tax for seniors, gradually eliminate the tax, and freeze elected officials’ and department heads’ salaries until the tax is gone.

Lindberg will lead a City Council that features one new face: Robert Schlensker in the 3rd Ward. John Jacobsen, 4th; Clint Little, 1st; Chuck Frykman, 2nd; and A. Marie Holmes, 5th, were re-elected.